A medium-sized loon. Pacific counterpart to Common Loon.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The Pacific loon or Pacific diver is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family.
Source: Wikipedia — Pacific loon Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Sleek loon with a smoothly rounded pale-gray head and nape, a straight thin bill held level, and (breeding) a black throat and checkered back. Often a thin dark 'chinstrap' in winter.
Similar species. Common Loon is much larger with a heavier bill; Red-throated Loon holds its bill tilted up and looks paler. Pacific's rounded gray nape is a good mark.
Voice. Wailing and yodeling calls on the breeding grounds; generally silent at sea.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fish, aquatic invertebrates caught by foot-propelled dives.
Behavior. A trim loon that breeds on arctic tundra lakes and winters in flocks on the Pacific coast, diving for small fish; migrates in long lines along the shore.
§ Range
Pacific coast in winter; Arctic in summer
§ Habitat
Pacific waters
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the pacific loon is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support coastal conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pacific loon
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Gavia pacifica
- IUCN Red List — search for Gavia pacifica
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Gavia pacifica
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
